Almanor basin gains disaster relief equipment

M. Kate WestChester Editor3/31/2010

Emergency Services Manager Charles McCaul of the Three River Chapter and Shasta Chapter of the American Red Cross announced the delivery of an emergency service vehicle to the Lake Almanor Basin, March 25. “On this date, volunteers Linda White, Tom Fisher and Pat Clark of the Almanor branch of the Three Rivers Chapter picked up the ERV from the Yuba City headquarters and brought it to Chester, where it will be staged,” he said.

The ERV is the mobile feeding and bulk distribution vehicle of the American Red Cross. McCaul said the vehicle will provide food to shelters or along designated routes during disasters and transport bulk distribution supplies, such as shovels, buckets and clean-up kits. “The ERV is one of four such vehicles ready for disaster response from the Three Rivers chapter,” he added. He said the other three ERVs are positioned at Yuba City, Chico and Redding. Local unit ERV 3039 is a chapter-owned vehicle, which means the maintenance is the responsibility of the local chapter. The other three ERVS are nationally-owned vehicles and are maintained by Red Cross National Headquarters. “ERV 3039 will be available to serve locally in Chester, Quincy and Susanville, as well as the rest of the surrounding area,” McCaul said. To become a Red Cross volunteer in the Chester/Lake Almanor area, call Linda White at 259-3718 or e-mail at: llwhite2@juno.com.